2008 Fall Board Meeting
NATA Fall Board Meeting at the Super 8
October 16, 2008 in Seward, NE
7:15 – 9:15
In attendance: Emily Adams, Donna Alden, Amber Buhrman, Nancy Childs, Jean Detlefsen, Gail Dickel, Angela Fischer, Deb Goodenberger, Mary Gradoville, DeAnn Hanisch, Sheila Hubbard, Debbie Kippley, Amber Kosmicki, Christy Kosmicki, Jerene Kruse, Kathy Lemmerman, Jeanine Mohr, Sr. Margaret Proskovec, Sue Rieber, Julie Ryan, Judy Stabb, and Gladys Wassinger. Donna Binderup is ill and Christine Brown could not be released from Parent/Teachers Conference at her school. Donna Arnett, Susan Hanson, Phil Hermann, Deb Kubik and Pat Schultz were able to join the board mid-meeting.
President Debbie Kippley called the meeting to order and conducted introductions.
Minutes from the Summer Board Meeting in Holdrege, were submitted by Secretary Christy Kosmicki via email to board members two week after the meeting. Corrections were made, resubmitted to the board and sent to our Perspective Editor, and Web-master. Christy thanked the board for reading and responding to the minutes within two weeks of receiving the email.
Sheila Hubbard presented the 2008 Fall Conference Report. Sheila proposed the idea of keeping an on-going, separate checking account for Fall Conference at Union Bank. Sheila explained there are Union Banks across Nebraska. This separate account would enable the Conference Chairman to access money easier and more quickly. Discussion regarding seed money for conferences followed. Margaret, past-treasurer, explained that seed money has always been provided as soon as the committee requested it for their conference planning needs. This account is opened in a bank conveniently located to the Conference Chair. In order to keep a separate Conference Account, an account manager would need to be in place who would file IRS reports, etc. on that money. Although this year, NATA has good cash flow, some years the Association relies on conference profits to meet expenses. Other discussion points addressed: 1. the importance of having the account reside in the community that hosts the conference; 2. that the best practice is to continue to close out the conference account at the end of each conference which is a sound accounting practice for the Treasurer and the Association; and 3. that the ultimate goal is to provide a quality conference each year. Since the conference is in Lincoln next year, Sheila Hubbard made the motion to keep the 2008 Conference account open at Union Bank for the 2009 Committee; seconded by Nancy Childs. Motion did not carry. As soon as Nancy and her committee request seed money from Emily, Nancy will set up a new account in Lincoln.
Emily Adams, Treasurer, reported that as of October 15, 2008, NATA has a total balance of $30,897.77; $7,644.90 remains in the checking account; and $23,252.87 remains in a Waddell and Reed mutual fund, which has not lost any money due to the national economic crisis. The interest from this mutual fund helps to fund NATA projects/activities. From July to mid-October of 2008, NATA brought in $1,746.57 and had $4,888.01 in expenses. The NATA checking account has changed from First National Bank of Wahoo to Wells Fargo in Omaha. Due to this change, organizations are in the process of receiving our new account information and resubmitting direct deposit funds.
Debbie reported for Christine, Communications chairman. The NATA ListServ has added 47 new members bringing the total to 891. The Board applauded Christine for developing and maintaining this vital communication tool! Christine needs all ESU Area Reps to forward an updated list of art educators in their ESU area. The board is also very pleased with the web site and discussed the following suggestions for improvement: 1. Add pictures to liven up the site and add a human component. 2. Vary the formatting of articles to make it easier to read and more aesthetically pleasing. For example: show the beginning of the article, headline or photo with a caption, and attach a ‘click to read more’ button. 3. Create more live links to member classroom web sites related to specific representative areas: K-12, elementary, middle level, secondary, and higher education/university links. Debbie will discuss these suggestions with Carole.
Julie Ryan, Newsletter Editor, reminded us that November 1st is the deadline to submit articles for the Winter Perspective. The print bill is never mailed to Julie so Emily will send a copy for her bookkeeping. The current cost is $2,700 for all 3 issues, but only $2,000 was budgeted with an additional $400 for postage and permits. Julie explained that a lot of states print a web-based newsletter and provide hardcopies for Nationals and vendors to reduce expenses. The Fall Perspective, which features the 1st President’s issue, is mailed to all Nebraska art teachers. The other 2 issues are mailed to 175 members, 30 advertisers, 3 sent to Nationals, a few exchanged with other states, and 1 copy is kept in the NATA files. The cost for advertising is $50.00 per year for a non-profit. The ESU and other board members were asked to get this low cost advertising opportunity out to local businesses and art advocacy groups to help with the publication costs. Julie will send Christine information on advertising to post on the ListServ. The board felt that the Perspective is a quality publication featuring excellent articles and timely information, a membership benefit, and is worth the money it cost to produce and mail. The treasurer was asked to consider adding to the Perspective budget line item in the next proposed budget.
Amber Buhrman and Angie Fischer presented the YAM/NASVC report. Amber distributed a two-page report on the mission of YAM, up-coming changes and lesson outline. The Congressional piece (CAC) of our YAM celebration should be included in the NSVAC entries to solve the problem of overlapping high school state competitions. This will also save teachers from extra organizing, packaging, and mailing to separate places. The added benefit will be an increased number of entries to the CAC, insuring that the ‘best of the best’ will always represent Nebraska in Washington. Southwest Airlines is still donating 2 round-trip tickets to D.C. to aid students with travel expenses. Lodging and money to frame the winning artwork is covered by the student. Jean D. and Amber B. will make some contacts regarding sponsorship by local frame shops and/or private donors to help with these expenses.
Youth Art Month is slated for March 7th. Check the NATA website for details and entry information. Amber still needs help promoting YAM. Donalyn Rice, at the Dept. of Ed., will send postcards to remind teachers to go to the NATA web site for application materials. ESU Reps are asked to help distribute information too. Amber B. is inviting teachers to involve their students in designing a flag for the YAM Celebration at the Capitol and later sent to National Conference. There is a $1,000 grant involved, so if interested, contact Amber. She will send Christine information to advertise this opportunity on the ListServ. The Women’s Club has not donated the refreshments. Bright Lights, a Lincoln Community Enrichment program donated cookies last year. Amber will be contacting NATA Board members for help with the many components involved with YAM. Debbie made the motion to approve the consolidation of secondary entries for the Congressional Caucus, YAM and NSVAC with details to be worked out by committee; Jean Detlefsen seconded. Motion carried. The YAM/NSVAC committees will have added expenses in printing and postage; therefore the board approved a $200.00 budget increase to off-set expenses. DeAnn Hanisch, Secondary Rep, volunteered to be responsible for getting the CAC winners from NSVAC (Omaha) to the YAM celebration (Lincoln).
2009 Spring Conference will be hosted in Lincoln by Nancy C. and Jean D. on Saturday, March 7th, in conjunction with YAM. The Spring Board meeting will be the evening of March 6th; time and place TBA. Nancy will invite Margaret Berry, encaustic artist, to provide a three hour morning workshop. The YAM celebration will begin at 2:00 to provide adequate time for Spring Conference activities. Debbie asked the Board to think about restructuring ideas for Spring Conference to meet the needs of our membership and encourage better attendance in 2010. ESU Area Reps are asked to get feedback from their art teachers and share at the spring board meeting. In other conference related news, Debby stated that the 2009 National Conference is in Minneapolis and Washington D.C. in 2010.
Debbie Kippley reported on Awards for Jeff Stern. Debbie will remind the membership that nominations are submitted between Fall Conference and January 31st. Nomination forms are available during the conference, and reminders will be posted on our ListServ. Debbie plans to work with the Executive Board to design a rubric to accompany the Awards selection.
Student Chapter Rep, Amber Kosmicki, reported that she and Professor Donna Alden are working to develop an active NATA student chapter at UNK. In the past, all campus art activity was combined with the UNK Art Society which doesn’t address art education issues or activities. During Amber’s break-out session on Saturday, she plans to share NATA information and brainstorm ideas with student members and university participants attending the session. Amber will send a report to the board with her findings and/or recommendations regarding Student Membership needs. Jean Detlefsen, Higher Education Rep, reported that Emily Adams helped make the UNL Student Chapter an official campus organization. Wayne State has an active membership and UNO is expressing interest in starting a chapter. Both Jean and Amber would like to have a venue where student leaders and university sponsors could work together. Jean voiced concern that students can not afford Fall Conference fees. She feels that this, along with lodging and transportation costs, is a huge deterrent to student participation. She would like the Board and/or Conference Committee to develop some type of scholarship program, personally sponsor, or adopt a student to help defer lodging costs. She suggested that the conference registration form could ask for a $5 donation to support a student attending the conference. Jean also recommended that Conference Committees waive the conference fees for students and only assess fees for meals. Jean thought that the students could be asked to work at the conference or bring an item for the silent auction in lieu of the conference fee.
Christy Kosmicki, Exhibit Chairman, reported on the progress of reinstating the annual Undergraduate Show. She is currently in fact finding mode. This fall, Christy has completed an up-dated contact information list of Higher Ed. Art Department Chairs, Art Education Professors, and Gallery Directors at each Nebraska institution. Christy is missing some of the Community College contacts and hopes that Carole can help her fill in the blanks. Christy distributed a hard copy of this list to the officers, Amber Kosmicki and Jean Detlefsen. Copies will be emailed to other board members once the updates are complete. She suggested that Christine Brown invite the higher education contacts to join the NATA ListServ. Jean sent an email to her contact list and only Milt Heinrichs from Dana responded. He had mentioned that his students are already involved in a state/regional exhibit. She will follow up on this information. Jean and Christy are planning a meeting of higher education representatives who are interested in participating and hosting the Undergraduate Show. Perhaps the NATA Student Art Exhibit can wrap into an event that is already in place on campuses.
In the President’s Report, Debbie shared that she is offering free art workshops and/or curriculum in-service to all Educational Service Units across the state; asking only for gas and lodging. There will be a one-day Western Region Leadership Conference on June 25th in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Angie will release more information after National Conference. Sr. Margaret Proskovec, president-elect, reported that all job descriptions were sent to board members. Susan Hansen made a suggestion to change the bullets on the ESU Representative description to read as ‘for example’. Gail Dickel asked for an adjustment to the Private & Home-Schooled Rep description. The word ‘Museum’ will be deleted from the item on Educator Award nominations. Nancy Childs moved to approve the job description content; Jeanine seconded. Motion carried. Each Board member was asked to review the job descriptions to help them be more productive. Margaret also distributed members lists for each Division Representative: Elementary, Middle Level and Secondary.
Nancy Childs reported on the 2009 Fall Conference to be held the first weekend in October. Her committee is working on block-booking with another organization regarding our keynote. The new Quilt Center may be one of the conference sites where Michael James will speak and present a hands-on activity. The annual Art Educators Show will start in September (2009). The show will be taken down at the end of Fall Conference. The Sheldon and Haymarket Galleries host a ‘First Friday’ Gallery Walk which will be available to conference participants, therefore the Awards Banquet and Auction will be held on Saturday. Saturday will also feature the keynote speaker, one morning break-out session, box lunch, and two afternoon breakout sessions. The 2009 Committee is well on their way to providing NATA members with an outstanding Fall Conference. Look for details in the Spring Perspective.
Debbie thanked the Representatives for submitting their Committee e-Reports. Donna Alden, Minority Concerns Rep, discussed the Missouri Chapter Multicultural Conference. Donna will continue to distribute information to the membership concerning multi-cultural issues and up-coming conference opportunities.
Retired Art Teachers Rep, Sue Reiber asked for a list of retired teachers in Nebraska. Donna Arnett or NAEA office in Reston will be able to assist with gathering this information. There was not a Museum Report due to a vacant board position. Debbie will appoint someone to this position.
In New Business, Angie announced that July 13-16, 2009 Davis Publications Summer Institute for Art Educators will be held in Pennsylvania. For more information, call 800-533-2847 ext 227.
Meeting was adjourned.